Boiler gauge



S. F. WESTONA BoILER GAUGE April 29, 1930.

Filed 001'.. 2l. 1925 ,f XM ATTofA/Em Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFlCE SYDNEY FRANK WESTON, OF ,EAST PUTNEY, LONDON,ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEWJERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BOILER GAUGE Application filedOctober 21, 1925, Serial No. 63,856, and in Great Britain January 10,1925.

' This invention relates to improvements in water gauges by which theheight of the normal level of the water can be marked so that it can bereadily seen.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thegauge glass column with :reflector attachment; Fig. 2 is a section alongthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view, partly broken away; Fig.4 is a horizontal section through one of the details; and Fig. 5 is aside view of the same. l l

In the drawings, reference character 10 indicates a water gauge glass ofa common type that is connected to the steam and water spaces of aboiler by the connections 11 and 12, respectively. A series ofreflectors 13 are superposed, one above the other, and are mounted on aframework so as to be juxtaposed to the glass 10. Each one of thereflectors 13 comprisesJ portion 15in the form of half of a truncatedcone, with the edges of their lower portions 14 bent around rods 17 oneachside, which rods constitute a portion of the framework forsupporting the reflectors. The framework also comprises side walls 18which prevent ingress of light from the sides. The framework is pivotedat 19 to the hook 2O so that it `can swing backwards in -case the glass10 bursts, thus receding from the glass, and 'also for the purpose ofenabling the glass to be renewed. The frame work is along its rear side,or along the side opposite the glass 10, and a reflector 21 is mountedat this rear side. The reiiector may contain an electric light and isadjustable in a vertical direction by means of the nuts 22 which contactwith the respective sidesof the projection 23. The frame work, sidewalls 18, the series of reiiectors 13 and the reflector 21 may beconsidered broadly as a housing for the series of light.' *n

One of the reflectors 13 has its ends which bend around the rods 17prolon ed, as shown at 24 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) and is s it, as shown= at25. T e slit portion is provided with a hole 26 and the opposing portionis provided with a hole27, these holes being for the purpose ofreceiving and retaining a glass button or bead 28 that is spring held byvirtue of the slit end 24. The bead may consist of a shank portion toextend through the holes and enlarged head portion.

When a light shines in the reflector 21 the rays therefrom pass betweenthe skirt portions 15 of the reflectors 13 and illumine the gauge 10.The light cannot escape along the sides of the gauge 10 because theupright or vertical portions 14 contact with each other and form awall.The rays, however, which strike the glass bead 28, which are preferablyncolored, pass through the same to a sufficient extent to cause the sameto be readily visible. Markers consisting of beads or buttons similar tothe one described, may be mounted in the vertical portions 14 of otherrefiectors 13 to mark the maximum and minimum safe heights of the waterlever in the boiler.

While I have illustrated and described one particular form o'f a gaugeglass device and associated marker means, I do not wish to be limitedthereto and reference is made to the following claims to indicate thescope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a water level indicator, a plurality of superposed inclined platesat one side of said indicator, and a light-transmitting medium mountedfor illumination by rays of light passing between some of said plates.

2. In a water level indicator, a plurality of superposed plates one ofwhich has a bore, a light-transmitting marker mounted in the bore in oneof said plates and a source of light located at one sideof said platesand passing between some of said plates for illuminating said marker.

3. In a water level indicator, a plurality of superposed inclined platesat one side of said indicator, said plates having parallel rim portionsthere being a bore through one of said rim portions and alighttransmitting medium mounted in said bore through one of the rimportions of said plates for illumination by rays of light passingbetween some of said plates.

4. In a water level indicator, a plurality of superposed inclined plateslocated at one side of said indicator, said lates having parallel rimportions, there eing a bore through one of said rim portions and alighttransmitting marker located in said bore vas and for the purposesdescribed.

5. In a Water level indicator, a plurality of superposed inclined platesat one side of said indicator, said vplates having parallel rimportions, one of Which has a bore, a piece of glass extending throughthe bore in said rim portion and yieldable means resiliently holdingsaid glass in assembly with said rim portion.

6. In a water level indicator, a plurality of superposed inclined plateslocated at one side of said indicator, said plates having parallel p rimportions, there being a light-transmitting bore through one of said rimportions at the height of the normal water level and a glass markerlocated in said light-transmitting bore.

7 In a Water level indicator, a gauge glass, a source of lightpositioned behind the gauge glass so as to illuminate the same, means1nterposed between said gauge glass and said source of light to directrays of light toward said gauge glass and light-transmitting markermeans located laterally to one side of the gauge glass and at apredetermined Water level with relation to the gauge glass v andilluminated by light rays from *said source of light.

8. .In a Water level indicator a gauge glass, a source of lightpositioned behind the gauge glass so as to illuminate the same, fixedi1- luminated marker means located laterally to one side of the gaugeglass, means supporting the illuminatedJ marker means so that itmay beilluminated by the source of light whereby the relation of the vliquidin the gauge glass maybe determined with regard to a given point.

SYDNEY FRANK WESTON.

